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The Garden of Friedan: The Tainted Towns Collection
Terry and Janet Dixon have the perfect suburban life – well, almost perfect. Ever since their elderly neighbour passed away, his overgrown garden next door has been bringing down the tone of their middle-class neighbourhood,
But when Terry and Janet take matters into their own hands to tame the wilderness, the garden fights back with terrifying force…
The Garden of Friedan is the second sinister short story in the Tainted Towns collection, written by award-winning author Victoria Williamson, and available to purchase as an anthology.
But when Terry and Janet take matters into their own hands to tame the wilderness, the garden fights back with terrifying force…
The Garden of Friedan is the second sinister short story in the Tainted Towns collection, written by award-winning author Victoria Williamson, and available to purchase as an anthology.
57 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2025
8 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Williamson
30 books81 followersA lifelong storyteller and daydreamer, Victoria Williamson is an author and teacher who has lived and worked in Africa, China, America and the UK.
Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.
After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.
A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.
Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.
You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
Victoria grew up in Kirkintilloch, north Glasgow, surrounded by hills on the edge of a forest estate where many of her early ghost stories and fantasy tales were born amid the magical trees and spooky old ruined buildings.
After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real life adventures, which included teaching Maths and Science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with special needs in the UK.
A qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs Education, Victoria is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.
Victoria’s experiences of teaching young children in a deprived area of Glasgow, many of whom were asylum seekers, inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of friendship between Glasgow girl Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
Victoria writes fantasy, adventure, science fiction and contemporary issue novels for Middle Grade (9-12), Teen, and Young Adult readers. Many of her books have been inspired by children she has met on her travels, both abroad and in the UK. She is currently working on a Middle Grade novel exploring the issues faced by a boy with ADHD who is struggling to fit in with his new step-family, and a spooky adventure novel for Teens, centred around a cast of characters with special needs including deafness, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the Scottish Refugee Council.
You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 8, 2025
A Delightfully Spooky October Read with Unexpected Depth
The Garden of Friedan from Victoria Williamson's Tainted Towns Collection is exactly the kind of atmospheric, spine-tingling story that makes October reading so satisfying. While this relatively short read might seem quite simple at first glance, Williamson weaves together suburban paranoia and supernatural elements in ways that will leave you reconsidering your own neighborhood dynamics.
The story follows Terry and Janet Dixon, a couple dealing with their deceased neighbor's increasingly overgrown garden that's "bringing down the tone of their middle-class neighbourhood." What begins as a typical middle class suburban complaint about property values quickly escalates into something far more sinister when the couple decides to take matters into their own hands.
The Author in particular excels at capturing the suffocating nature of suburban expectations and the lengths people will go to maintain their perfect facade.
The character of Friedan, though deceased (and mouldering) for three weeks before discovery, haunts the story's narrative beautifully. The detail about his children fighting over his house while wanting nothing to do with his remains or funeral adds a deeply human (but not uncommon) tragedy that grounds the supernatural elements. His ashes being scattered in the garden he cherished creates a connection between the living and the dead that feels both touching and ominous.
The rhododendron serves as a particularly powerful symbol throughout the story. As the pride of Friedan's late wife, this once-beautiful plant becomes a focal point for both memory and menace. Terry's decision to cut it down represents not just garden maintenance, but a severing of connections to the past—and the garden's supernatural guardians.
The Author cleverly uses this botanical detail to explore themes of loss, memory, and the consequences of disrespecting what others hold sacred.
What impressed me most was how she connected the fantastical elements to real-world suburban tensions. Every reader will recognize the Terrys and Janets in their own neighborhoods—those well-meaning but ultimately self-serving couples who prioritize appearance over empathy.
The garden's supernatural resistance to their interference feels like karmic justice for their lack of respect for their deceased neighbor's memory.The paranormal elements build gradually, creating genuine unease without relying on cheap scares.
This is perfect Halloween season reading—spooky enough to give you goosebumps, but grounded enough in recognizable human behavior to feel disturbingly plausible.
The pacing is excellent for such a short story, and the author's descriptive writing creates vivid imagery that lingers long after you've finished reading.While the story could have delved deeper into some of its themes, its brevity works in its favor as a focused, atmospheric piece. It's the kind of tale that makes you look at your own garden—and your neighbors'—with fresh eyes.
Perfect for: Fans of suburban gothic horror, readers who enjoyed The Twilight Zone, and anyone looking for genuinely creepy October reading that doesn't overstay its welcome. This is not the first book of hers that I read and Victoria Williamson continues to prove herself as a master of unsettling, character-driven horror with this chilling addition to the Tainted Towns collection.
Recommended for: Halloween reading, fans of short horror fiction, and anyone who's ever had those neighbors. 🎃📚
The Garden of Friedan from Victoria Williamson's Tainted Towns Collection is exactly the kind of atmospheric, spine-tingling story that makes October reading so satisfying. While this relatively short read might seem quite simple at first glance, Williamson weaves together suburban paranoia and supernatural elements in ways that will leave you reconsidering your own neighborhood dynamics.
The story follows Terry and Janet Dixon, a couple dealing with their deceased neighbor's increasingly overgrown garden that's "bringing down the tone of their middle-class neighbourhood." What begins as a typical middle class suburban complaint about property values quickly escalates into something far more sinister when the couple decides to take matters into their own hands.
The Author in particular excels at capturing the suffocating nature of suburban expectations and the lengths people will go to maintain their perfect facade.
The character of Friedan, though deceased (and mouldering) for three weeks before discovery, haunts the story's narrative beautifully. The detail about his children fighting over his house while wanting nothing to do with his remains or funeral adds a deeply human (but not uncommon) tragedy that grounds the supernatural elements. His ashes being scattered in the garden he cherished creates a connection between the living and the dead that feels both touching and ominous.
The rhododendron serves as a particularly powerful symbol throughout the story. As the pride of Friedan's late wife, this once-beautiful plant becomes a focal point for both memory and menace. Terry's decision to cut it down represents not just garden maintenance, but a severing of connections to the past—and the garden's supernatural guardians.
The Author cleverly uses this botanical detail to explore themes of loss, memory, and the consequences of disrespecting what others hold sacred.
What impressed me most was how she connected the fantastical elements to real-world suburban tensions. Every reader will recognize the Terrys and Janets in their own neighborhoods—those well-meaning but ultimately self-serving couples who prioritize appearance over empathy.
The garden's supernatural resistance to their interference feels like karmic justice for their lack of respect for their deceased neighbor's memory.The paranormal elements build gradually, creating genuine unease without relying on cheap scares.
This is perfect Halloween season reading—spooky enough to give you goosebumps, but grounded enough in recognizable human behavior to feel disturbingly plausible.
The pacing is excellent for such a short story, and the author's descriptive writing creates vivid imagery that lingers long after you've finished reading.While the story could have delved deeper into some of its themes, its brevity works in its favor as a focused, atmospheric piece. It's the kind of tale that makes you look at your own garden—and your neighbors'—with fresh eyes.
Perfect for: Fans of suburban gothic horror, readers who enjoyed The Twilight Zone, and anyone looking for genuinely creepy October reading that doesn't overstay its welcome. This is not the first book of hers that I read and Victoria Williamson continues to prove herself as a master of unsettling, character-driven horror with this chilling addition to the Tainted Towns collection.
Recommended for: Halloween reading, fans of short horror fiction, and anyone who's ever had those neighbors. 🎃📚
October 20, 2025
It was an entertaining read, but I wish it didn't end on such a cliffhanger. I want to know what happened!
October 27, 2025
Pretty slow but not horrible for a short story
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews